It's a new look for the St Albans Folk Festival this year, which kicks off this weekend.

With the closure of the Old Town Hall it has meant that live music will take place across eight different city centre venues, from White Hart in Holywell Hill to outside The Alban Arena and in St Peter's Square; with the festival concert, featuring the ground breaking trio, Lady Maisery, at the Maltings Art Theatre.

Lady Maisery is made up of Hannah James, Hazel Askew and Rowan Rheingans - together they are known for exploring vocal harmony to breathtaking effect. They will be performing fresh interpretations of their songs and ballads.

Supporting Lady Maisery will be east London duo Black Scarr - Emma Scarr and Johnny Black. The pair were the winners of the 2016 Watford Folk Club songwriting competition with their song, The Wrong Kind of Men.

The festival concert will be opened by New Roots finalist Sherwan Qasm - a young Iraqi oud player, who is now living in Hemel Hempstead.

Before the concert, at 5pm, Lady Maisery will be holding a singing workshop at the Maltings Arts Theatre. Earlier, at 3.30pm, the Ver Players ukulele band will be joining the folk festival once again not just to perform, but to also host a workshop.

During the day on Saturday, there will be a variety of shows and performances spread out between pubs including The Mermaid, The White Hart Tap, The Farmer's Boy, the White Lion, the White Swan and the Portland Arms.

Dance performances will kick-off at 10am on Saturday outside The Alban Arena. The eight groups will then split up to perform in Christopher Place, in St Peter's Street (by the clock tower), and outside the Abbey west door.

On Sunday, as part of the Alban Street Party, local band All Hands Around, will be inviting everyone to join in the Big Dance.

Details: stalbansfolkmusic.org